Humanise

A few weeks ago, we attended the Humanise conference, hosted by Thomas Heatherwick Studio — a powerful reminder that the spaces we design should do more than function; they should uplift, connect, and move us.From the neuroscience of how our brains feel architecture to the emotional power of the smallest tactile details (like the lift buttons at Coal Drops Yard), the conference reinforced what we believe deeply:

Key takeaways that resonated with us:

• Architecture is read and felt by the brain

• Designers carry a responsibility to uplift

• “God is in the details” — even a button tells a story

• Emotional connection is core to placemaking

• “Boring buildings starve your soul.”

Our visit to Heatherwick Studio — complete with gallery explorations, model prototypes, and a glimpse at his original graduation project — was an inspiring deep dive into narrative-led, material-rich, human-centred design.


In the Studio

As we look ahead to Clerkenwell Design Week, we’re especially excited for the conversation between Sabine Marcelis and Alice Cory, diving into materiality, innovation, and multidisciplinary thinking — themes that resonate deeply with our own ethos.

Back at the studio, we’re shaping several new hospitality projects, currently in concept stages and driven by a focus on experience, story, and emotion.

Tola was selected as one of Homes & Gardens’ ‘Next in Design’ — more to share on this soon!

Thanks for reading — as always, we’re grateful to do the work we love, creating spaces that are grounded and rich with meaning.

Until next time,

TOS